Toli
Captain Toli Ludder
Being a mercenary was never young Toli’s dream. Some children dream of becoming soldiers and joining a noble king’s army, but few could even imagine the life of a sellsword. For Toli’s older brother, Cosi, Toli's Brother, it was a necessity. Indeed, most that take the coin do so out of desperation, having no other option but join one of the free companies. That they chose The Red Fang was down to a child’s eye, drawn to the bloody fang on the banner over the boar and crude symbols on the others.
At twelve years old, Toli was far too young to join the ranks of the Red Fang, one of the most sought after mercenary companies in Nostvary, but at fifteen, his brother was. Cosi’s name was entered into the ledger and Toli was given a spot with the baggage train. Together, they travelled across Nostvary, fighting under the banner of the fang and earning a respectful place among the other soldiers.
As orphans, struggling to survive on the streets of Sentinel, their dreams had revolved around hunger and shelter, but as they grew into men, they wanted more. Cosi’s life would be cut short, but his younger brother would live on, striving to live a life that neither could have imagined.
Early Life
Born in Sentinel, to Tork'mi, a sailor in the imperial navy, and Neve Ludder, a washerwoman, Toli and Cosi spent their first years surrounded by a loving family. But, when Toli was three, and Cosi seven, their father’s ship was lost in an engagement off the Midnight Cape. Pirates, using the ash clouds spewing forth from a nearby volcano as cover, ambushed Tork’s ship and sunk it in the encounter. Neve struggled to look after her sons while mourning the loss of her husband, but eventually fell sick. The last the boys saw of her was when they visited her in the free hospital run by the temple of Liandra. She died within a year of her husband, leaving Cosi and Toli orphaned.
With no one to turn to, the young boys were forced to fend for themselves. At seven and four years old, it was an impossible task, but somehow they managed. With no other choice, they stole what they needed and learned to hide and fight. Things went on like this for a few years before Cosi found them a place at a rope yard. In return for keeping the factory clean, they were given sleeping quarters in the roof space and spent their nights behind a locked and guarded gate. They still had to look out for each other, but life became easier.A new home with the Fang
Year 449 in the Unified Temple CalendarThe Imperial City of Sentinal"What are we doing here?" Toli asked. He clutched his blanket tightly and tried to keep up but Toli was walking quickly and searching the banners and the tents. Metal clanged as they passed an open-air forge and a dwarven blacksmith thrust a glowing blade into a bucket of water.
"There!" Coli stopped and pointed at a banner so his brother could see. "The Red Fang."
Toli stared at the flapping square of tattered cloth and at the bright red wolf's head emblazoned on it. Blood dripped from its open maw and its eyes shone gold in the bright sun.
"It's a wolf," Toli said but Cosi was already running toward it, dashing past the open tents and vanishing quickly. "Cosi!"
A new home with the Fang
The Padril Rebellion
Work in progressA New Dream
Work in progressNaming Conventions
Sondaran names have a suffix at the end, denoting class and rank. Toli's mother was from Dragsmund, which is outside The Sondaran Empire, so this doesn't apply to her, but his father was a sailor in the imperial navy. Common sailors and soldiers use the suffix 'mi', hence Tork'mi. A high-ranking officer such as a general would use 'ma', such as General Tolk'ma. Because they were orphaned and lived on the streets, the brothers were addressed using the 'la', denoting the lowest rank in society. Conversely, when Toli temporarily rose to the rank of captain, he had the right to use the 'ma' suffix, but never did.Relationships
History
The first member of the Red Fang that Toli met was Samuel. He was lost and the dwarf took pity on him and showed him the way.
Nicknames & Petnames
Toli often called Samuel the navigator, not for his sense of direction but for his uncanny ability to choose the correct path.
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